Light standard base hold down



Deco B966 5. s. MARCUS m LIGHT STANDARD BASE HOLD DOWN Filed Aug. 11,1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l 20 M Mg 1 12 GROUND 2 2 LEVEL INVENTOR.

SAMUEL S. MARCUS ATTORNEY 9 19% s. s. MARCUS BEWfiHQ LIGHT STANDARD BASEHOLD DOWN Filed Aug. 11, 1964 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

SAMUEL S MARCUS BY q M 72AM ATTORNEY United States Fatent Ofiiice3,289,369 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 3,289,369 LIGHT STANDARD BASE HOLD DOWNSamuel S. Marcus, Villanova, Pa., assignor to Spring City FoundryCompany, Spring City, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Aug. 11,1964, Ser. No. 388,877 8 Claims. (Cl. 52--295) This invention relates tooutdoor highway and street type lighting standards. In particular, itrelates to those lighting standards which are adapted to have atransformer provided within the base of the standard. With moreparticularity, this invention relates to structure by which the basecontaining the transformer is fastened to the foundation means. The termtransformer base hold down refers to all the interacting elements in anerected light standard relating to the function of holding the standardon its foundation means. It is understood that the hold down may includeparts of elements having other functions. In a broader sense, thisinvention may be said to relate to hold down means.

The expanded hollow portion of a light standard as conceived in thepresent invention is the base, and is adapted to contain the transformernecessary for the operation of the light. In this patent, this structureis referred to a the transformer base. The transformer itself, and thestructure of the light standard apart from the hold down do not form apart of this invention.

Light standards having transformer bases are known in the art. Ofcourse, therefore, there have been hold down means, broadly considered,which mount the base and the entire standard on a foundation. Suchpreviously known hold down means have generally required a plurality offastenings. Such previously known hold down means have involveddifficulties in alignment, even stressing, or ease and rapidity ofassembly and disassembly. The present invention is intended as animprovement over such known devices for the purpose, for example, ofimproving the factors mentioned above.

It is an object of this invention to provide a light standardtransformer base hold down means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a light standardtransformer base hold down means including at least part of a foundationmeans, a plinth, a transformer base, and a spider.

It is another object of this invention to provide a transformer basehold down means wherein a threaded bolt is provided in the foundationmeans, a plinth is provided and a spider is provided within saidtransformer base and coacts with said base, said plinth, and said bolt.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a self-aligningtransformer base hold down in which no relative rotation between thecoacting elements can occur during assembly.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a transformerbase hold down in which a single fastening means provides for assemblyor disassembly.

Other aims and objects of this invention are made apparent in thefollowing specifications and claims.

The invention is best understood in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a light standard showing theenvironment of the invention;

FIGURE 2a is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2b is a cross-sectional view, partly fragmented, of an alternateembodiment of the invention, taken along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2n, partly incross-section, partly fragmented;

FIGURE 4a is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3,looking upward from ground level and showing the underside of theplinth;

FIGURE 4b is a cross-sectional view of the alternate embodiment ofFIGURE 2b, looking upward. from ground level and showing the undersideof the plinth;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view showing the underside of the spider of theembodiment of FIGURES 2b and 4b; and

FIGURE 6 is an elevation view of the spider of the embodiments ofFIGURES 2b, 4b, and 5.

A light standard, generally designated 20 is shown in FIGURE 1 asincluding a base or transformer base generally designated 10 and restingon a plinth 12. The horizontal line indicates ground level.

The structure of the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 2a, 3, and 4a,can best initially be understood by reference to FIGURE 3. The uprightshaft or tube 22 of light standard 20 is seen to extend upward from thebase 10. The base 10 which may typically be made of cast iron or cast orotherwise fabricated steel, comprises a casing 14 having a closed top,typically having walls slanting inwardly as they rise and having agenerally square horizontal cross-section but with the sides. bowedoutwardly, as shown in FIGURE 2a. A transformer 24 may typically beprovided in the upper portion of this hollow base. The nature of thetransformer 24 or similar mechanism, and the means for attaching it andshaft 22 to base 10 are not of interest in this invention. Base 10 isalso provided with a foot portion 14a, preferably integral with thecasing 14. There are a plurality of foot portions or feet 14a, as shownin FIGURE 2a, each one being shown at a corner of the base 10. A foot14a is provided for each leg of the spider 16, which is described below.Each foot 14a extends inwardly from casing 14 for only part of thediameter of the bottom of transformer base 10. As shown in FIGURE 3,this foot is generally somewhat thicker in section than the casing 14.Its upper surface has an incline or slope from the casing toward thecenter of the base.

A plinth 12 is provided, resting at ground level and conveniently of asquare shape with rounded corners as seen from above, as shown in FIGURE2a. It has a slight inward wall taper, and is somewhat Wider than thewidest portion of base 10.

The plinth 12 may be hollow and may be made of the same materials asbase 10. As shown in FIGURE 2a, the plinth is provided with a pluralityof short extensions rising from its upper surface. These extensions arecasing guides 12a. As shown, there are four casing guides 12a, oneadjacent each edge of plinth 12. As is apparent, these casing guides 12aare proportioned and shaped to accommodate casing 14 which fits with afairly snug fit between the guide.

The shape of the upper (horizontal) portion of plinth 12 is best shownin FIGURE 4a. Au aperture is provided in the upper surface of plinth 12.The exact shape of aperture 12c is not critical, except that certainfeatures must exist along its edge. A plurality of spider guides 12b areprovided along the edge of aperture 120. In the embodiment shown, thespider, which is described further below, has four legs. Therefore,there are four spider guides 12b. Each spider guide comprises anextension of the surface of plinth 12 further into the aperture 120. Itis a characteristic of each guide that at least one side of it isconfigured to snugly mate with a matching part on a spider leg. Asshown, one side of each spider guide 1212 is a straight short sectionsubstantially di-ametrical of the plinth 12. Furthermore, at least twoof these straight short sections of spider guides 12b face each other.As shown in FIGURE 4a, the straight sides of the left spider guides faceeach other'as do the straight sides of the right pair of spider guides.

One foot 140 of base 10 is provided for each spider guide 1212. Eachfoot 14a extends inwardly to a distance less than the inward extensionof its corresponding spider guide 12b. Preferably, as shown in FIGURES2a and 3, a foot 14a extends inwardly so that it just reaches the edgeof aperture 120 of the plinth, when assembled on it, but does not extendinwardly as far as any part of the corresponding spider guide 121).

A foundation means is provided, at least partly below ground level. Thisfoundation means is best shown in FIGURE 3. The exact structure of allparts of the foundation means is outside the scope of this invention,but a typical such means is shown and described herein.

The foundation means may include an underground tube 18 extendingvertically from ground level. This tube 18 is provided with a concretefill 19. A bolt 17 is imbedded vertically in the concrete fill 19. Bolt17 is preferably provided at an imbedded portion thereof with anexpanded portion 17a. The bolt 17 extends above ground level and isprovided at the upper end thereof with an exterior screw thread. Thisscrew thread is high enough so that when the plinth, transformer base,and spider are assembled one above the other, at least some portion ofthe thread extends above the spider.

A spider 1.6 is provided, and may be made of cast iron as a unitaryelement, for example. A central aperture 16a is provided therethrough. Aplurality of legs 16b extend generally horizontally outwardly away fromthe central aperture 16a. As illustrated, there are four such legs,arranged 90-degrees apart. Thus, in the embodiment shown, one legcorresponds to each casing foot 14a and to each spider guide 1217.

At the outermost end of each spider leg 16!), the leg is expanded toform a pad 160. The horizontal configuration of pad 160 is shown inFIGURE 2a, and the vertical configuration is shown in FIGURE 3. Thelower surface of each pad 160 is sloped so as to correspond with theslope of the foot portion 140 on which it is adapted to rest. A legextension or guide pin 16d is provided on each leg 16b. Each guide pinextends downwardly from its leg. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the lengthof each leg extension 16d is such that when the plinth, transformerbase, and spider are assembled one on top of the other, each guide pin160. extends downwardly far enough to engage its corresponding spiderguide 1211.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 2a, 3, and 4a, the horizontalcross-section of each guide pin 16d is substantially square. As bestshown in FIGURE 4a, one straight side of each guide pin 16d snugly fitsagainst the straight side of its corresponding spider guide 12b.

After the foundation means is provided, the erection of the standard maybe completed. In this patent, the term foundation means generallyincludes all those elements shown below ground level as well as the bolt17, which also coacts directly as part of the hold down. The plinth 12is placed on the ground centered over the bolt 17. The transformer base10, which may or may not have the remaining upper portion of the lightstandard 20 attached thereto, is then placed on the plinth in a centeredposition with a foot portion 14a near a corresponding spider guide 12bon the plinth.

Then, the spider 16 is placed over the foot portions 141:. The spidermay be introduced into transformer base 10 and manipulated within itthrough 'an access opening (not shown) in the transformer base. Suchaccess doors :are well known in this art. Alternatively, the spider maybe manipulated through the top of the base It), as through the openingintended to accommodate shaft 22.

The spider 16 is positioned so that its pads 160 each rest on a footportion 14a, and so that each guide pin 16d mates or coacts with aspider guide 121). In the embodiment of FIGURES 2a, 3, and 4a, thismating or coacting is accomplished by having one side of each guide pin16d firmly butting against a straight side of a spider guide 12b, .2best .shown in FIGURE 4a. Each foot portion 14a, in addition to matingwith pad 160, also abuts a guide pin 16d. Thus, it will be seen that theplinth, transformer base, and spider are all properly aligned andcentered. In addition, no rotation can occur between the spider and theplinth because of the way in which the guide pins 16d bear against thespider guides 12b, as has been explained in connection with FIGURE 4a.

Fastening means are now applied to hold the spider tightly down. Thesefastening means in the embodiment shown include a fiat washer 17b whichfits over bolt 17, a lock washer 170 which rests on top of the fiatwasher, and a nut 17d which is screwed over the washers on the thread ofbolt 17. This nut is tightened down, and the entire assembly is therebycompleted in one fastening step with complete alignment and centeringbeing assured. It is apparent that for disassembly, the procedure isreversed. The fastening means generally includes in this embodiment thenut, washers, and threaded end of the bolt.

Another embodiment is illustrated in FIGURES 2b, 4b, 5, and 6. The lightstandard 20 and the foundation means are the same as in the firstdescribed embodiment. There are differences in the structure of theplinth, t-ransformer base, and the spider. The differences in thetransformer base lie in the structure of the foot portions thereof.

The spider of this embodiment is best shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6. Thespider I6 is provided with a plurality of legs 16y, here shown in apreferred form of four such legs arranged -degrees apart. The centralsection of the spider is provided with a vertical central aperture 16ztherethrough. At the ends of each leg 16y, the leg is expanded in agenerally horizontal direction to form a pad 16x. This pad 16x has anunder surface with a slope corresponding to the slope of the uppersurface of foot portion 142, which is attached to casing 14. As thus fardescribed, these elements of this embodiment are the same as thecorresponding elements as described above in connection with the firstembodiment.

Each leg 16y of the spider is provided with a downwardly extending guidepin or leg extension 16v. As shown, each such guide pin 16v is circularin horizontal cross-section, and each pin depends from a pad 16x.

The structure of plinth 12' is best shown in FIGURE 45. The generalstructure of plinth 12 is like that of plinth 12, as described inconnection with the first embodiment, except as differences arespecified. The upper surface of plinth 12 (shown from below in FIG- URE4b) is provided with an aperture 12x therein. A plurality of spiderguides 12y are provided around said aperture 12x at spaced points. Inthis embodiment, the spider guides are four holes through the uppersurface of plinth 12' spaced equidistantly around said aperture 12x.Thus, every guide pin 16v is provided with a matching spider guide 12y.

Foot portions 142 correspond in general location, number, andconfiguration with foot portions 14a, as described above in connectionwith the first embodiment. They differ, however, in that they are eachprovided with a notch My, as best shown in FIGURE 2b, where one of thelegs 163 is fragmented away to expose notch 14y. Notch 14y extendshorizontally from the innermost surface of foot portion l iz toward oneof the corners of casing 14'. Each notch 14y extends far enough so as topreferably just clear the corresponding hole or spider guide 12y inplinth 12. Thus, just as in the first embodiment, the guide pin 16d boreagainst foot portion 14a along a vertical surface, so in the secondembodiment guide pin 16v bears against foot portion 141 along a verticalintersection.

In assembly of the elements of the second embodiment, as shown inFIGURES 2b, 4b, 5 and 6, after the foundation means is provided, as hasbeen explained above, the plinth 12' is placed over it with bolt 17passing upwardly through approximately the middle of aperture 12x.Casing 14' with its foot portions 14z is placed over the plinth so thateach notch 14y exposes one of the holes 12y. Spider 16' is then put inplace, in the same manner as described in connection with the firstembodiment, except that each guide pin 16v passes through acorresponding notch 14y and through a corresponding hole or spider guide12y. The same self-aligning, self-centering, nonrotating fit is thusobtained. In the same manner as has been described above in connectionwith the first embodiment, fastening means are then applied to hold downthe spider. In FIGURE 2b, a nut 17d is seen bearing on a lock washer17c. The nut 17d is threaded over the threads on the upper end of bolt17, as has been de scribed.

It is apparent that in both embodiments, a single tightening of one nuton one bolt firmly and accurately assembles the entire structure, withall parts being prop erly aligned and with stresses being equallydistributed. The second embodiment has the advantage of positivelyholding the plinth, base, and spider in a set and firm horizontalalignment against rotation. This is because guide pin 16v engages notchMy as Well as hole 12y. The first embodiment of FIGURES 2a, 3, and 4a,does not hold the transformer base as securely against rotation becausethere is not as positive an engagement of guide pin 16d with thecorresponding foot portion Ma.

The scope of this invention is to be determined by the appended claimsand not limited to the foregoing description and drawings which areillustrative.

I claim:

1. A base hold doWn comprising:

(a) a foundation means, part of said foundation means comprising part ofa fastening means,

(b) a plinth over and around each part of foundation means, said plinthhaving an upper surface, an aperture therein, and a spider guidetherein,

(c) a base comprising a casing and a foot portion at the bottom of saidcasing, said foot portion extending horizontally inwardly across onlypart of the bottom of said casing,

(d) a spider having a vertical central aperture, a leg extendinghorizontally away from said central aperture, a pad at the end of saidleg remote from said central aperture, said pad bearing on said footportion, a guide pin extending downwardly from said leg, said guide pinbearing against said foot portion and mating with said spider guide insaid plinth,

(e) fastening means, said fastening means bearing on part of saidfoundation means and on the top of said spider, whereby said base issecurely fastened to the top of and aligned with said plinth.

2. A light standard transformer base hold down comprising:

(a) a foundation means at least partly below ground level, part of saidfoundation means comprising part of a fastening means,

(b) a plinth at said ground level over and around at least part of saidfoundation means, said plinth having an upper surface, an aperturetherein, and a spider guide therein,

(c) a transformer base comprising a casing and a foot portion at thebottom of said casing, said foot portion extending horizontally inwardlyacross only part of the bottom of said casing,

(d) a spider having a vertical central aperture therein, a leg extendinghorizontally away from said central aperture, a pad at the end of saidleg remote from said pad bearing on said foot portion, a guide pinextending downwardly from said leg, said guide pin bearing against saidfoot portion and mating with said spider guide in said plinth,

(e) fastening means, said fastening means bearing on part of saidfoundation means and on the top of said spider, whereby said transformerbase is securely fastened on top of and aligned with said plinth.

3. A light standard transformer base hold down comprising:

(a) a foundation means at least partly below ground level, part of saidfoundation means comprising part of a fastening means,

(b) a plinth set at ground level and over and around at least part ofsaid foundation means, said plinth having an upper surface, an aperturetherein, and a plurality of spider guides spaced around said aperture,

(c) a transformer base comprising a casing and a plurality of footportions at the bottom of said casing, each foot portion extendinghorizontally inwardly across only part of the bottom of said casing,

(d) a spider, having a vertical central aperture, a plurality of legsextending horizontally away from said central aperture, a pad at the endof each said leg remote from said central aperture, each said padbearing on one of said foot portions, a guide pin extending downwardlyfrom each said leg, each guide pin bearing against one of said footportions and mating with one of said spider guides in said plinth,

(e) fastening means, said fastening means bearing on part of saidfoundation means and on the top of said spider, whereby said transformerbase is securely fastened to the top of and aligned with said plinth.

4. A light standard transformer base hold down as set forth in claim 3,wherein said foundation means includes a vertical bolt extending atleast partly above ground level, and said fastening means comprises athreaded upper end on said bolt, and a nut fitting over said threadedend.

5. A light standard transformer base hold down as set forth in claim 4,wherein said spider legs are horizontally equidistantly spaced.

6. A light standard transformer base hold down as set forth in claim 5,wherein said foot portion has an upper sloped surface, each said pad hasan under sloped surface, and said sloped surfaces are mated.

7. A light standard transformer base hold down as set forth in claim 6,wherein said spider guides are each holes in said upper surface of saidplinth near said aperture, said guide pins are configured to fit snuglyinto said holes, and each said foot portion is provided with a notchaligned with and superimposed on a said hole, said notch fitting partlyaround said guide pin.

8. A light standard transformer base hold down as set forth in claim 6,wherein said spider guides comprise inward extensions from said apertureon said upper surface of said plinth, each said spider guide having atleast one straight side, and said guide pins each having at least onestraight side bearing against a mating straight side of said spiderguide, each said guide pin depending from said leg inwardly of said footportion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,627,640 5/1927Ebel et a1. 52--295 1,776,682 9/1930 King 52-295 X 1,903,907 4/1933Riemenschneider 52--295 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner. R. S, VERMUT,Assistant Examiner,

1. A BASE HOLD DOWN COMPRISING: (A) A FOUNDATION MEANS, PART OF SAIDFOUNDATION MEANS COMPRISING PART OF A FASTENING MEANS, (B) A PLINTH OVERAND AROUND EACH PART OF FOUNDATION MEANS, SAID PLINTH HAVING AN UPPERSURFACE, AN APERTURE THEREIN, AND A SPIDER GUIDE THEREIN, (C) A BASECOMPRISING A CASING AND A FOOT PORTION AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID CASING,SAID FOOT PORTION EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY INWARDLY ACROSS ONLY PART OFTHE BOTTOM OF SAID CASING, (D) A SPIDER HAVING A VERTICAL CENTRALAPERTURE, A LEG EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY AWAY FROM SAID CENTRAL APERTURE,A PAD AT THE END OF SAID LEG REMOTE FROM SAID CENTRAL APERTURE, SAID PADBEARING ON SADI FOOT PORTION, A GUIDE PIN EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAIDLEG, SAID GUIDE PIN BEARING AGAINST SAID FOOT PORTION AND MATING WITHSAID SPIDER GUIDE IN SAID PLINTH, (E) FASTENING MEANS, SAID FASTENINGMEAND BEARING ON PART OF SAID FOUNDATION MEANS AND ON THE TOP OF SAIDSPIDER, WHEREBY SAID BASE IS SECURELY FASTENED TO THE TOP OF AND ALIGNEDWITH SAID PLINTH.